The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1887-11-05
SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY.

-Rlne new comets were observed
during the year 1886.
Two hundred and fifty-fve meteor
illogical stations are now maintained in
Russia, exclusive of the large obserya-
tories.
AN Australian mineral called
maldonite has been found to consist OF
an alloy of gold and bismuth. contain
ing sixty-four per cent. of the former
metal.
The English cS-operatiyes have a
bank whose transactions amount to
SS0,00O,00 a year. Their 9O0.0 MEM
bers receive all annual profit of $751;
600, 900. Their profits during the past
twentyfour years have been $50,000,-
000.- Washington Craftsman. s
According to geological computa-
lions the minimum age of the earth
since the formations of the primitive
soils is 81, 900. 900 years-6, TOO. 900 years
for the primordial formations. 6, 400, 900
years for the primary age. 100000
years for the secondary age, and 460,-
900 years for the tertiary age, and 100,-
900 since the appearance of man upon
the globe.
The JeUelers' Journal says: There
has never been time in the history of
the American watch trade when the
business was Of such vast proportions
as now. All The larger factories that
have run all summer, as well as those
that shut down for short interval, arc
behind orders at the present time, with
the prospect of the largest holiday de-
mand ever known before them"
The manufacture of corsets is
becoming a most important industry
in Wurtemberg, about 10000 people
being now engaged in the trade. Large
quantities of woven corsets are exported
to Brazil, La Plata, England and the
Uuited States. The amount sent to the
last named country is, however, less
now than previously, as the United
States have also begun to manufacture
this article.
The British Iron Trade Association
has issued its half-yearly statistics of
the production and stocks of pig iron,
and the production of Bessemer steel
ingots and rails. As compared with
the corresponding six months of 1886,
the make of steel ingots shows an in
crease of 202,217, and the make of
steel rails an increase Of 1886 tons.
The production of pig iron increased
1884 tons. The increase of stocks of
pig iron as compared with tho same
period has been 1866 tons.-P,t6Iis
Opinion.
1t seems that dynamite which has
been exploded in blasting out rocks
sometimes leaves an explosive residue
which renders it dangerous to break up
the smaller masses with the sledgo-
hammer. In Brazil, where this residue
has caused several serious explosions
in mines, it is supposed that nitro-gly-
cerine eXudes from the dynamite before
or ut the time it is fired, and remains at
the bottom of the drill-hole, unexploded.
until struck by the sledge-hammer
when the miners are breaking up the
rock. Whatever the true explanation
may be, the subject IS well worthy of
Investigation by the man ufacturers of
dynamite. 7. Ledger,
Tho discovery of new gas is a
rare and important event 10 chemists.
Such discovery has been announced
in Germany by DR.. Theodore Curtius.
who has succeeded in preparing the
long-sought hydlide of nitrogen ami
dogen, diamide or hydrazine, rs it is
variously called. This remarkable
body, which has hitherto baffled all at
tempts at isolation. is now shown 10 be
gas, perfectly stable up to very high
temperature, OF Il peculiar odor. differ
ing from that of ammonia, exceedingly
soluble in water, and of basic proper
ties. In composition it is nearly iden-
teal with ammonia. both being COM
pounds of nitrogen and hydrogen. -
Boston Budget.